What happens when a hit show meets a hidden paradise? For Koh Samui, it means your quiet island life transforms into a round-the-clock tourist circus.
From season three of The White Lotus, Koh Samui now has much more attention on the international vacation radar. Google searches for the island soared by 88%, hotel bookings rose by 44%, and now everyone wants to own a piece of this tropical island.
Sounds positive for tourism growth, right? Hold on.
Koh Samui used to see around 10,000 visitors per day in 2023, and is now experiencing a 28% year-on-year increase during the same period this year. Along with all that footfall comes bigger issues—waste, water scarcity, and an increasing strain on the environment.
Dr. Kannapa Pongponrat Chieochan’s warnings, a Koh Samui native and a ThaMmassat University educator, are as blunt as they come. She has raised alarms about rampant tourism and its impact on the island’s infrastructure, detailing how the lack of proper planning is draining island resources. “The government and locals need to figure out something before resorting to the breaking point,” she explained.
“On top of everything, Samui now has a serious problem with handling waste and water, putting it in a tough position economically and environmentally,” she highlights the consequences of poorly managed development.
While it appears that no one is working towards a solution, the Thai government appears to be doing. There are laws and even campaigns like the Marine and Coastal resources Management Act of 2015, not forgetting the ‘Save Water, Save Samui’ launched in 2014. There’s even a concrete plan to reduce plastic use and increase recycling on the island.
The problem here is that many experts criticize these local environmental initiatives for lacking proper governmental support, claiming enforcement is extremely shallow.
The 2029 vision includes further expanding the island’s airport, adding a fully functional cruise terminal, and even attempting a second underwater pipeline to manage the outlandish demand. Sounds good in theory, but the island seems like it would be well beyond its capacity to manage so many resources at once and could risk bursting at the seams.
Rich in scenic beauty, Koh Samui was once a small fishing village and now boasts multi-million dollar resorts and lavish hotels. The charm and its increase in popularity due to a certain TV show have led a lot to be adored, but if left unchecked, there is potential for severe environmental damage and loss of charm due to overcrowding.
A lavish island resort, The White Lotus did put the island on the map, but there’s a lot that needs to be taken into consideration by the people and the government of the island to manage its fame, and really ensure that the location remains a paradise for travelers all year round.
